KEY TEXT: Mark 6:3 (KJV) – “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him.”
In Mark 6:3, the people saw Jesus and asked certain questions about Him concerning His identity. They understood His identity based on what they saw and their perceived knowledge of Him. They asked, “Is not this the carpenter?” They knew Jesus through His occupation as a carpenter. They were expecting someone high-ranking — such as a priest, a Pharisee, a Sadducee, or even a scribe — to do such mighty works. They were not expecting a carpenter to perform wondrous deeds.
Help from God does not always come from where we expect it to come from. Many times, it comes from where we least expect it.
That is why the Bible instructs us:
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJ21)
As human beings, when we think we have everything figured out, we often fail to see the need for God. We stop seeking His direction when we believe we already understand the path ahead. The Sabbath acts as a weekly reminder that God is still in control of our lives. The Israelites knew the location of the land of Canaan, yet they still depended on God’s daily guidance. The Bible tells us:
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light.” — Exodus 13:21 (KJ21)
Though they knew the destination, they still had to follow God step by step. God does not always work through the people we expect. That is why He commands us to love everyone — even our enemies.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you…” — Matthew 5:44 (KJ21)
Some people surround themselves only with pastors or perceived “men of God,” expecting God to help them through those individuals alone. Others associate mainly with wealthy people, hoping God will use them for their financial breakthrough. God does not use the people we want him to use. God uses the people He wants to use.
Jesus was a craftsman, and the people in His hometown despised Him because of His occupation. Yet this same carpenter not only had the solution to life’s problems — He Himself is the solution.
Jesus declared:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” — John 14:6 (KJ21)
Those who believed in Jesus received miracles. Those who refused to believe experienced little of His power. The people in Jesus’ hometown tried to understand Him through His earthly family, whom they knew well. Because they knew His mother and siblings, they assumed they fully knew Him. But knowing about someone is not the same as knowing someone. Similarly, many people know about God but do not truly know God. One of the beautiful truths about God’s creation is uniqueness. No two human beings are the same. There may be similarities, but no one is identical.
If there were nothing unique about you, God would not have created you. He would have stopped creation with those similar to you. The people in Jesus’ hometown saw His family performing no miracles, so they questioned how Jesus could perform such mighty works. They thought that if He had come from a priestly family, it would make more sense. Yet Scripture shows that coming from a godly lineage does not automatically produce godly living. The sons of Aaron — Nadab and Abihu — were priests, and they were sons of priests, yet they sinned greatly before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1–2).
The sons of Eli were also priests and sons of priests, yet the Bible says:
“Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.” — 1 Samuel 2:12 (KJ21)
God works by His calling and purpose — not merely by family background. When John the Baptist was born, the people wanted to name him after his father, Zacharias. God had given specific instructions for John’s name because John had a unique divine purpose. God did not want him identified by human tradition but by God’s calling. Today, people often ask successful musicians, leaders, and innovators whether they come from families with similar backgrounds. Some do, some don’t.
Your background does not define you.
God defines you.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for limiting You with my expectations and for judging Your answers by outward appearance. Help me to trust Your ways above my own understanding. Open my eyes to recognize Your hand even when You work through unexpected people and situations. Teach me to walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity
- Write down one situation where you are waiting on God for help or direction.
- Beside it, write how you expect God to answer.
- Pray and surrender that expectation to God, saying:
“Lord, I trust Your way, not mine.” - Stay alert for God’s answer — even if it comes through an unexpected person, idea, or opportunity.
Reflection question:
Could I be overlooking God’s answer because it doesn’t look like what I expected?
Author: Mark Alex
BUY MY EBOOK: A FAITH FUELED LIFE: I RUN ON FAITH AND I’M NEVER RUNNING LOW
A FAITH FUELED LIFE: I RUN ON FAITH AND I’M NEVER RUNNING LOW (Amazon): https://amzn.to/4atSjuO
A FAITH FUELED LIFE: I RUN ON FAITH AND I’M NEVER RUNNING LOW (Google Play): https://bit.ly/4i9fXQp
Email: gettruthgetlife@gmail.com
Phone Number: +254710633247
My LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-alex-0b87a9109/
PayPal: gettruthgetlife@gmail.com
Revolut: revolut.me/markalex92
Get Truth Get Life 
Leave a comment